Private ferry services plying the coastline between B.C. and Washington State were excluded from Monday91裸聊视频檚 border re-openings, a situation that has left them frustrated and in economic limbo.
On Aug. 9, the Canada Border Services Agency announced that fully-vaccinated residents of the United States could pass through the country91裸聊视频檚 land borders for the first time in 16 months. The decision also means American pleasure watercraft are also now permitted to arrive in Canada, but it is unclear when passenger ferries will be allowed to make trips between U.S. and Canadian ports, said Destination Greater Victoria CEO Paul Nursey.
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91裸聊视频淭his is devastating news and it can91裸聊视频檛 be underscored,91裸聊视频� he said, calling the lack of details on the resumption of international ferry traffic 91裸聊视频渢he height of incompetence by the federal government.91裸聊视频�
According to Destination Greater Victoria figures, Clipper Vacations ships and the MV Coho ferry from Washington State account for 750,000 visitors to Victoria annually and as many as 1,400 hotel night bookings in a month. In 2017, spending from international visitors arriving through Victoria91裸聊视频檚 Belleville Terminal totalled $100.5 million.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e busy now with Canadian travellers, but in a matter of weeks when Canadians go back to school, our demand91裸聊视频檚 going to fall off a cliff,91裸聊视频� Nursey said.
Destination Greater Victoria is considering a class action suit against the Canadian government for damages sustained to its hotel and tourist attraction members, he added.
Ryan Burles, co-owner of the Black Ball Ferry Line which operates of the Coho, said the nearly 65-year-old vessel has sailed every six weeks to keep it seaworthy without customer revenue. What91裸聊视频檚 more, he said, several First Nations rely on the convenience of the ferry to maintain family ties between Washington and B.C.
Dr. Mel Krajden is medical director of the BC Centre for Disease Control and was a member of the Minister of Health91裸聊视频檚 COVID-19 Testing and Screening Advisory Panel, whose three reports contained recommendations for the reopening of Canada91裸聊视频檚 land and air borders.
Opening land borders to fully vaccinated U.S. travellers was an 91裸聊视频渆normous step forward and a complicated one,91裸聊视频� he said.
Considering small number of international ferry travellers relative to those in automobile or aircraft, Krajden said, Canada prioritized where they could safely screen the influx of U.S. arrivals for negative COVID tests and full vaccinations, while allowing necessary delays in customs processing. 91裸聊视频�(International ferry travel) wasn91裸聊视频檛 a discussion point on the panel,91裸聊视频� he said.
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The full renewal of Black Ball Ferry Line91裸聊视频檚 services would require less restrictions than are in place in both the U.S. and Canada, Burles said. Thirty per cent of their traffic revenue is made from Canadian departures, which the U.S. has yet to allow. Additionally, Burles said he can91裸聊视频檛 imagine U.S. travellers spending $132 for a COVID-19 test to take the MV Coho for a one-to-two night trip to Canada.
91裸聊视频淲e would just like to see some sort of plan,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频� With files from The Canadian Press
